Coin controlled cabinet for books



May 26, 1936.

` A. A. EAGLE ET A1.

COIN CONTROLLED CABINET FOR BOOK'S 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l5, 1955 ATTORNEY;

May 26, 1936- A. A. EAGLE ET AL 2,041,994

COIN CONTROLLED CABINET FOR BOOKS Filed March l5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR S TTO RNEYl;

Patented May 26, 1936 COIN CONTROLLED CABINET FOR BOOKS Arthur A. Eagle and Alois A. Grosser, Rochester,

N. Y., assignors of one-third to Camillus J. p Kesselring, Rochester, N`. Y.

Application March 15, 1933, Serial No. 660,881

l 10 Claims.

This invention relates to coin controlled cabinets and has for one of itsv objects' to provide a cabinet for the reception of a book of reference, such as a directory so that when reference to the book is desired, access may be had thereto on the deposit of a coin.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the mechanism of the cabinet that the cover thereof will be partially opened at the time it is released. by the coin-controlled mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide the cabinet with a mechanism which will automatically move the book from within the cabinet on the opening of the cover thereof and thus permit an unobstructed use thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide the cabinet with a mechanism whichY will automatically replace' the book and lock it into the cabinet as soon as it is released by the user of it.

These and other objects of this invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description thereof which follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings invwhich Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cabinet as it appears when opened.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cabinet onV the line 25e-2cv, Figure 1. Y

Figure 3 is an end elevation of vthe cabinet when closed.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the cabinet, the section being taken on the line` Ir- 4x of Figure 3.

In the-several gures of the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

The coin controlled cabinet forming the subject matter of our invention is` especially adapted forV books of reference such as city and trade directories so that such books may be kept in good condition in suitable public places and consuited. there on the payment of a coin.

As illustrated in the figures the cabinet I is constructed so as to have the appearance of a largefbook. A'large part of the top of the casing is formed by the cover 2 which is hinged at one side of the casing at 3 in` order to provide a'supportingY shelf for part. of the book to rest thereon after the cabinet hasbeen opened as illustrated in Figures l and 2. The cover 2 opens and closes the compartment 4 in which the reference book 5 is located and the mechanismv hereinafter described automatically cooperates with the cover to. raise the'book from this compartment on the opening movement thereof and lowers thev book into the compartment on the closing movement thereof.

A small compartment 6 is separated from the compartment 4 by the partition 1. 'I'his smaller compartment is closed by the fixed cover 1A and contains the coin-controlled mechanism which releases the cover 2 on the deposit of a coin. This mechanism comprises a suitable coin slide 8 which partially projects from the casing and is mounted to slide between suitable guides 8A provided within and. without the casing I. The coin slide has an opening 9 which is normally located on the outside of the casing so as to receive the coin; Closing the opening 9 in the slide with a coin prevents the dog I0 (Fig. 4) within the cabinet from dropping into the opening to-stop the movement of the slide as the coin opening passes the dog so that the slide can be pushed into the cabinet the full length it projects therefrom between the guides 8A. A handle II is provided on the outer end of the slide for the purpose of pushing the coin slide and this handle is undercut on both sides to permit its movement between the guides 8A. The inner end of the coin slide is inclined downwardly and engages the lower portion of the swinging locking latch I2 when the slide is moved the full length of its'travel. The latch portion of the locking latch- I2 projects thru an opening I3 inthe partition 1 and normally engages the xed latch I4 provided on the under side of the cover 2. When the locking latch is operated by the end of the coin slidev it is moved into the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 4 while it isbeing disengaged from the fixed latch I4 of the cover. The coveris thus releasedand is free to be raisedl by the swinging arm I5. This armv is pivoted at Ilv in the partitionV 1and is adapted to swing from the angular full line positiontothe vertical dotted line/position illustrated' in Figure 4. This is done by the Ylaterally projecting lug I1 carried by the coin slide 8 which projects thruV the horizontal slot- I8 in the partition 1. The lug I1 is located on the coin slide so as not to engage the arm I5 until the latch I2 has releasedv the cover. The arm I5 is thus swung into its vertical position during the last part of the movement of vthe coinV slideV so as` to slightly raise thev cover as soony as it has been released to show thel person desiring the use of the book that the cover has been unlocked and is ready to be opened.

The cover remains supported on theV arm I5 until it is raised by thehand of the operator but as soon as the cover israised and the weight ,cabinet at 34.

which guide the pins in a vertical movementA and keep the platform in Ia` horizontal position while it is being raised and lowered by the elevating mechanism that will now be described.

This mechanism comprises a double crank which is mounted to swing in the bearing block 23 and is provided with the crank arms 24v and 25. Crank arm 24 engages into the slot 26 of the link 21 and crank arm 25 is pivotally connected to the under side of the platform 20 by means of the link 28. Link V21 in turn is pivotally connected to the bracket 29 on the under Side of the cover 2.Attached to the crank arm 24 is one end of a series rof connected expansion springs 30A which are anchored with their other end to the lug 3D in the bottom of the cabinet. These expansion springs normally draw the crank arm to the right in Figure 2 and swing the crank arm 25 downwardly until the platform connected theretoris lowered toV ak position in which the book carried thereby is completely located within the cabinet. Suitable stops, as for example the upper ends of the sleeves 22, support the platform in this position. With the cover closed the book is thus concealed within the cabinet and held locked therein` until released bythe deposit of a coin and the operation of theI coin controlled mechanism heretofore described.

' `After the cover has been released as above pointed out,rthe operatortakes hold of it and swings it open into the horizontal position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. As .the cover is swung open the slotted link 21 is pulled out of thecabinet but due to the slot 26 into which the crank arm engages the` cover is partially opened before the crank arm 24 is drawn Vupward by the link 21 and the platform consequently raised by the crank arm 25 and link 2B. The movement of the cover with relation to that of the plat- 4form is thus timed so that the platform `is elevated to bring` the book supported thereon to the top of the casing by the time the cover has reached a horizontal position toV one side of the casing. The book may thenbe opened to have one s ide of it supported on the cover whilethe ibook is being examined. A

. The orankarm- 24 isfmoved by the link 21 against the resistance' of the springs 30A which 'are expanded when the cover has been opened. V'I'he action vof these springs on'the release of the cover after thebook has been examined is V'to swing the cover shut with a quick movement. To prevent this and make the cover shut slowly, a pair `of air checks are provided. These air checks comprise the cylinders 3| and 32 of which cylinder 3|"ispivotally mounted to the Vside of the cabinet at 33 while cylinder 32 is pivotally mounted close 4to the bottom Vof the In each ofV "these cylinders is mounted a piston and piston rod 35 connects top and encircles the cylinder 3|, connects the piston of cylinder .32 with the oifset bracket 31 4carried by the cylinder 3|. I v

In closing the cover the piston rod 35 is thus` forced to the right to have the piston in thef cylinder 3| compress the air therein while the vpiston rod 36 is forced down on the swinging motion of cylinder 3| to have its piston compress 5' the air therein. Both cylinders are provided with valve controlled intakes indicated at 38 and 39respectively in theA form of tire valves vvhich'permity airpto freelyent'er the cylinders on the opening of the cover as the pistons alle "moved outwardly by their respective piston rods..

Besides the intake valves each cylinder is also provided with fa'. small exhaust opening thru.- whichthe yair is gradually allowed to escape as the pistons compress the air on the inward movie-155 ment thereof. In this way the movement dfi e the pistons in the cylinders is retarded and thi's'l keeps the springs 30A from closing the cover too fast. Y Cylinder 3| checks the movement of the, cover from the beginning of its closing move- 20l ment until its retarding action has been spent at the end of the compression movement of its piston after which cylinder 32 and its piston act to check the nal closing movement of the cover thru the piston rod 36 and its connection with 25 the cylinder 3l.

' The coin which has been inserted into the coin opening of the coin slide is deposited into the compartment 6. The coins accumulated in this compartment may be withdrawn from thlscom'- 30 partment thru the opening 40 which is normally closed by the door 4| which may be opened by a suitable locking mechanism. i

'I'he book may be fastened to the platform in any suitable manner as for example by clamping 35' one of the covers thereof to the platform by means of the clamping-straps 60 and 6|.

1. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a platform mounted to move up and 40` down in said cabinet, a cover for said cabinet, locking means for said cover, means for releasing said cover, means for slightly raising said cover after the release thereof by said locking means and means connecting said cover with said platform to raise said platform on the opening of said cover and lower said platform on the closing of said cover. Y

2. `In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a platform mounted to move up yand down in said cabinet, a cover for said cabinet, connecting means having a lost motion between said cover and said platform for elevatingsaid platform after a predetermined opening'movement of said cover vwithout said platform spring means for closing said cover and means for retarding the closingmovement 0f s aid cover and the descending movement ofsaid platform.

3. In a device of theV character described, a

cabinet, ya movable platform in said cabinet adapted to have a book supported thereon, a cover for opening and closing said cabinet, an actuating member, a latch for locking Said cover to said cabinet, and means carried by said actuating member for unlocking said latch on movement of s aid actuating member, an arm mounted to swing' in said cabinet below said cover and means carried by said actuating member to operate said arm to raise said cover on movement of said actuating memberafter said latch has been unlocked thereby. Y 4. Ina device of the' character described, a

cabinet, a movable platform in said cabinet adapted to have a book supported thereon, aV cover' fori closing the top of Asaid cabinet above 75 tuating member, a

said platform, an actuating member cooperating with said cover to release said cover, spring means connected to said cover for closing said cover on the release thereof and checking means connected to said cover for checking the closing movementI thereof, said checking means cornprising a pair of swinging cylinders each having a piston mounted to slide therein, a piston rod for each of the pistons, the piston rod of one of said cylinders being connected to said cover to check the first part of the movement of said cover and the piston rod of the other of said cylinders being connected to said first cylinder to check the swinging movement of said cylinder and in turn the latter part of the closing movement of said cover.

5. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a cover mounted to freely swing on said cabinet, a book support associated with said cover to move therewith by swinging said cover on said cabinet, latch means within said cabinet for locking said cover to said cabinet, an actuating member within said cabinet and operable from the outside of said cabinet for releasing said latch means.

6. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a cover mounted to freely swing on said cabinet, a book support associated with said cover to move therewith by swinging said cover on said cabinet, a latch means within said cabinet for locking said cover and the book support against movement, an actuating member within said cabinet for releasing said latch means from said cover and permitting a manual operation of said cover and book support without said accylinder mounted to swing within said cabinet, a piston m'ovable in said cylinder and means connecting said piston to said swinging cover to retard the closing movement thereof.

*'7. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a swinging cover for said cabinet, a platform movable up and down in said cabinet, a pair of crank arms mounted on a rock shaft below said platform, one of said crank arms being connected to said platform, the other of said crank arms being connected to said swinging cover whereby movement of the cover causes movement of the platform.

8. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, means for holding a book in place in said cabinet, a cover for said cabinet and connecting means between said cover and said book holding means for moving said book out of said cabinet on the movement of said cover by the hand, said connecting means having a lost motion therein to permit a partial raising of the cover without the book holding means for the insertion of the fingers of the hand behind the cover.

9. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a movable book support in said cabinet adapted to have a book xedly anchored thereto, a cover mounted to freely swing on said cabinet so as to open and close said cabinet above said book support, said cover being operatively connected with said book support to move said book support on the swinging of said cover in opening and closing said cabinet, an actuating member, a latch for locking said cover to said cabinet and holding said book support against movement in said cabinet, and means carried by said actuating member for unlocking said latch to allow said cover to freely swing on said cabinet and move said book support.

10. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, a movable platform in said cabinet adapted to have a book supported thereon, a cover mounted to freely swing on said cabinet for opening and closing the top of said cabinet above said platform, said cover being operatively connected with said platform to move said platform on the opening and closing of said cover, locking means for locking said cover to said cabinet, an actuating member for releasing said locking means to permit the swinging of said cover and the movement o-f said platform by said cover, spring means connected to said cover for closing said cover on the release thereof and checking means associated with said cover for checking the closing movement thereof.

ARTHUR A. EAGLE. ALOIS A. GROSSER. 

